Since Civ1 we've seen human-caused climate change in the game, though it's been emphasized more in some versions than others. Gathering Storm makes this an important point of emphasis. GS also dramatizes random incidents like floods, volcanoes and storms that were sometimes mentioned in earlier games. The realism of what's been is impressive.
But an extra layer of historical realism would come from more climatic fluctuation during the ages prior to the Industrial Revolution. Events like the Younger Dryas, the Medieval Warm Period or the Little Ice Age all had important impact on civilizations that passed through these events. The former set back the spread of farming by centuries and caused temporary sea level fluctuation, the second allowed colonies in northern areas like Greenland to thrive for a few decades. The latter caused severe disruption in many parts of the world and brought on famines. An earlier period of extended winters in the 500s had a similar effect. Having several of these events take place and dramatized would be realistic and dynamic. These are events that would last for decades to centuries, not merely a couple of turns.
But an extra layer of historical realism would come from more climatic fluctuation during the ages prior to the Industrial Revolution. Events like the Younger Dryas, the Medieval Warm Period or the Little Ice Age all had important impact on civilizations that passed through these events. The former set back the spread of farming by centuries and caused temporary sea level fluctuation, the second allowed colonies in northern areas like Greenland to thrive for a few decades. The latter caused severe disruption in many parts of the world and brought on famines. An earlier period of extended winters in the 500s had a similar effect. Having several of these events take place and dramatized would be realistic and dynamic. These are events that would last for decades to centuries, not merely a couple of turns.
